State funeral for Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings on Nov. 28
The country will bid farewell to the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, on Friday, November 28, 2025. in a state funeral at the Independence Square in Accra.
The ceremony, to be held under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama, will celebrate the life and legacy of a woman whose name is synonymous with women’s empowerment, child welfare and grassroots development.
A statement issued by the Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the state funeral was in recognition of Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings’s invaluable contributions to national development and the advancement of women’s rights.
Passing
Following the passing of Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, the nation was united in grief.
A book of condolence was opened at her residence, and a steady stream of dignitaries, political leaders, traditional rulers, and citizens visited to sign and express their sympathies.
Among those who signed were President Mahama, the Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang; the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the leadership of Parliament, senior government officials, politicians from across the political divide, the clergy and the business community, among others.
In the days following her death, the Presidency declared three days of national mourning in honour of her service and legacy. The President also announced a state funeral for the country’s longest-serving First Lady, but the date was subject to consultations with her family.
Tributes, memories
In preparation for the funeral, the Agyeman-Rawlings and allied families have urged individuals, groups and institutions who wish to submit tributes in honour of the late former First Lady to send them by email to
Also, friends and well-wishers are encouraged to send their experiences of how she impacted their lives through her work, as well as digital photographs, videos and memories of her, by email.
They were encouraged to include their names and contact numbers. Alternatively, hard-copy tributes and photos could be delivered to Trudy at the Office of former President Rawlings, No. 1 Sekou Toure Link, Ridge, near the Ridge Hospital.
Well-wishers keen to send their tributes have up to two weeks to submit them, while all other enquiries could be directed to mobile number 027 6500 008.
Legacy
Born on November 17, 1948, Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings dedicated more than four decades of her life to public service and social transformation.
She became the country’s longest-serving First Lady, having served under her late husband, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, from the days of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) in 1979 through the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era (1981–1993), and finally during the first two terms of the Fourth Republic (1993–2001).
Throughout this period, she redefined the role of the First Lady, not as a ceremonial position, but as a platform for national impact.
Her work touched lives in every region of the country and gave voice to women who had long been excluded from decision-making and economic opportunity.
Political trailblazer
Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings’ work on women’s economic empowerment, grassroots movements and push for girl-child rights and welfare at both international and local levels has resulted in many actions being taken in these areas.
At the Beijing Conference, when the platform for action was being drawn, the girl-child was not a point of discussion, but Mrs Rawlings pushed and made sure the other First Ladies got it, and the issue about girl-child became the 12th critical area of the Beijing Conference.
One of her legacies is her impact on local legislation for women, such as the passage of the Intestate Succession Law, PNDC Law 111.
The law has also influenced the drafting of other bills concerning property rights in this country, and even influenced a lot of court decisions on inheritance rights.
Beyond her work in social advocacy, Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings blazed a trail in Ghanaian politics. In 2012, she founded the National Democratic Party (NDP) after parting ways with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party she co-founded with her husband.
In 2016, she made history as the first woman to contest the presidency on the ticket of a registered political party, further cementing her status as a pioneer for women’s leadership in the country.
Her courage to challenge convention and her commitment to national development earned her admiration from supporters and critics alike.
